Terrible Cell Phone Reception at One Northside Piers

Did you report it to American Tel & Tel?

This is why everyone should have a land line, regardless of how "reliable" your cell phone service is.

yes, but they don't know what the problem is and just tell me to turn off the phone and restart.

well i'm not at home that much so don't want to add another expense if i can avoid it. still frustrating all the same...

Verizon's frequency does better through steel & concrete. Invite a Verizon user in off the street to check bars.

nyc08, that's really frustrating, sorry to hear (it's one of those little things that should be on people's checklists when looking at places, but rarely is, unfortunately). I live nearby and have never had poor service, unless I'm underground (I have T-Mobile). I would ask your neighbors and see if it's your particular phone models that have poor reception as well. I don't know how much the carriers themselves can do, but it can't hurt (too much) to bug them about it. Good luck!

"well i'm not at home that much so don't want to add another expense if i can avoid it."

If you can afford a half-million dollar condo, you can afford land line service for $35/month. If $35/month for telephone service breaks the bank, perhaps you've over-extended your finances.

@ alanhart and bjw2103 - thanks for the advice, I'll try Verizon and also Sprint and see if there's any improvement.

@ nycmatt - the issue is not whether or not i can afford it, i could easily pay $35 on top of the $300 i already pay for my current cellular services. the issue is paying for cell phone services i can't use while i'm at home - though granted is not that often since i'm a very "mobile" person (other than late at night or early in the morning when i'm home to sleep). i am looking for advice as to whether or not to stay w/ my current service providers (AT&T and Tmobile) or switch to a new (possibly better) service provider.

i've dealt with the frustration of not having consistent cell reception while at home for a year now (roughly $3600 in cell phone bills), but given the fact that my contract with AT&T is now expiring i just want to see what all my options are and would like any helpful advice.

If Sprint, check out the Palm Pre: http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/Palm-Pre-Review-review-r_2192.html

The area of Williamsburg was not heavily populated until recently. It's possible that they do not have any local antennas on the condo's roofs yet. Trying other services would be your only option. Maybe you can find out from your management company if any of the big companies put an antenna on your roof.

nyc08, I did provide you with "helpful" advice. There is simply nothing more reliable than land line service, and no mobile phone carrier will ever be able to assure you the 100% reliability that the actual phone company has been providing for the past 100 years or so.

$300/month? Seriously? I pay 1/3 of that for my iPhone (AT&T), with unlimited calling and all the bells and whistles. Couple that with $35/month for a land line, and you'd still be saving 50% over what you're paying now.

these will help, but they dont come cheap. a lot of the manhattan office buildings have these.

if your neighbors have having the same issues, maybe they can help defray the cost?

http://www.wilsonelectronics.com/Products.php?Type=B

this should cover your apartment, and much cheaper.

http://www.wilsonrepeaterstore.com/wilson-building-solutions/wilson-801247-dt.html

Even cheaper is this: http://www.wired.com/images/article/magazine/test2007/mp_greatestgadget_f.jpg

lol!

Even cheaper, and perfect for Matt: http://tinyurl.com/mq7rv9

Well, now we know what's in alanhart's search que.

ah matty boy---so droll.

Telecommunications -- so what?

You also might consider Tmobile@home service (a VoIP line for an extra $10/mo) or Sprint's AIRAVE service (a femtocell connected to your broadband). I don't know if AT&T or Verizon have anything similar to either of these.

very interesting and funny links! thanks all.
@ nycmatt - i appreciate your efforts to be helpful even though the approach came off aggressive and confrontational... i do like your stab at humor w/ the the good old-fashioned phone apparatus ;) anyhow, i have unlimited text messaging on one phone and use international calling on the other which accounts for the somewhat high bills and pay about $150 for each device.
(btw: my personal/ work situation requires that i have each device separately. besides the fact that Tmobile int'l calling rates are much more reasonable than AT&T anyhow)

nyc08, sounds like you live in a faraday box. I doubt verizon or different iphone models would make any difference. I've never heard that CDMA (verizon and sprint) is any more robust than GSM (att & t-mobile). One of those wilson repeater things will fix the problem.

AT&T sucks for sure - i have people using the iphone all over my industry including people i work with daily and the service is just horrible. i have a coworker in manhattan beach CA and his service cuts out constantly. switch to verizon. i live in williamsburg and go all over and my blackberry on verizon always works.

nyc08 -- "old-fashioned phone apparatus"? I have one just like it in my office. The stamp on the bottom says it was first put into service in 1965.

I pick up the phone ... there's a dial tone ... ALWAYS ... never a "dropped call" or "weak signal" ... never loses its "charge" ... and delivers consistently superior sound quality.

@liulide- very interesting! i'm not a scientist but i looked up faraday cages and you may have something there! perhaps the builders tried to protect the building from lightning strikes with the faraday cage design and this is the adverse effect... not really sure on that but sounds possible.

@wisco- i'm happy with my AT&T service when i'm out and about, it's just the home service I find lacking...

@nycmatt- that was my attempt at humor - not as drole as you unfortunately ;) still you have to admit the rotary dial are a bit retro... anyhow, if i don't get the wilson cell signal amp (which seems like it may solve my problem) i will take your advice and get a good old reliable landline - complete with rotary phone and an extra long cord so i can stay mobile inside my apartment. thanks!

nyc08: http://www.phonearena.com/htmls/AT-Ts-femtocell-solution---MicroCell-is-on-the-way-article-a_3874.html

Just like the rest of the leading carriers, AT&T is going to launch its femtocell solution. A lot of information about the nature of the MicroCell technology, as well as its requirements has been published officially. AT&T MicroCell is the equivalent of T-Mobile’s HotSpot @Home, Sprint’s AIRAVE and Verizon’s Wireless Network Extender, but the main difference is that it comes with 3G support. It acts like a mini cellular tower that you can place in your home or workplace, providing you with higher signal strength. It is designed to support up to 10 3G-capable wireless phones. You’ll get better performance for both ordinary voice calls and data applications for up to four simultaneous users.

To operate with the AT&T MicroCell you’ll need to have a wireless phone/device, broadband service over DSL or cable and a computer with internet in order to register online. Unfortunately, the price is still unknown.

nyc08, has the cell phone service improved at all? I know that when I visit the Northside sales office, my cell phone doesn't get reception.

Also, how do you like living at NS1 overall?

Thanks

"I live at One Northside Piers and have AT&T on my iPhone and rarely have reception when at home. I either have poor or no signal, or the calls get dropped. When I can get through, everyone tells me the quality is very poor and choppy with conversations going in and out. I also have Tmobile on my blackberry and have similar problems. Is there anything I can do?"

Yes.

Use your HOME PHONE to place and receive telephone calls.

Magic Jack

http://www.wired.com/images/article/magazine/test2007/mp_greatestgadget_f.jpg

Is that a typewriter?

THIS jack is even more magic:

http://www.summitsource.com/images/products/AC249I.jpg

telegraph port?

abacus?
cotton gin?

"Is that a typewriter?"

No, smartass. THIS is:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/853173/SelIII.JPG

It's actually MINE.

Selectric

"telegraph port?"

Phone jack.

Never "drops" calls, never "loses" a signal, better sound quality than the best cell phone, and works even without electricity.

No? Then why are people in videos always clicking violently on the end button saying "Mabel, Mabel, the call dropped, put me through to ACademy 6835" or some such dialogue?

"Then why are people in videos always clicking violently on the end button saying "Mabel, Mabel, the call dropped, put me through to ACademy 6835" or some such dialogue?"

Um, first of all, that's television or movies, not real life.

Second, that was back in the '40s.

My telephone service in this apartment has been uninterrupted since 1958.

You've been listening in to the other subscribers' calls for over fifty years?

I believe that t-mobile is just a reseller of AT&T in NYC... meaning its the same network.

You might just want to find something on the other networks, either the other cell band (verizon), or PCS (Sprint). Of course, PCS generally sucks in NYC.

I believe T-Mob's the same technology/frequency as AT&T (for voice; different for 3G data) ... but entirely separate company and network.

"Of course, PCS generally sucks in NYC."

And yet, Verizon's land lines work flawlessly, 24/7.

how about voice over internet...matt...you still dont need a lnad line

Sound quality sux compared to land lines.

How about two tin cans and a string?

Jesus, why are people so *against* a regular telephone line?

Matt, there are many options that will allow you to get rid of your telephone line.

And clearly, as evidenced by the original posting, they aren't as reliable.

I don't understand why people are willing to bend themselves into pretzels trying to avoid using a land line telephone.

And even if you have a cell phone, I don't understand why you would WANT to get rid of your land line.

They're a bit cumbersome to lug around, especially if you don't have a car, and their cords are trip hazards.

The OP was complaining about not getting reception in her home. I suggested she use a land line. This has nothing to do with lugging anything around.

Another option for you, Matt, would be to get prepaid mobile service from any of the major providers. Then you don't need to be locked into a monthly plan.

activate the wifi in your apartment...then use your iphone skype app...no need for anything new..problem resolved...

matt - you've never seen a dog choke on a landline i guess...or a guest with poor eyesite trip over a landline...not the mention the risk that a dramatic argument could lead to someone ripping the phone out of the wall....

"matt - you've never seen a dog choke on a landline i guess...or a guest with poor eyesite trip over a landline...not the mention the risk that a dramatic argument could lead to someone ripping the phone out of the wall...."

Using that logic, we should eliminate any and all devices that need to be plugged into the wall, including televisions, computers, stereos, kitchen appliances, clocks, and lamps.

"Another option for you, Matt, would be to get prepaid mobile service from any of the major providers. Then you don't need to be locked into a monthly plan."

Even better is the good old-fashioned telephone company.

They've been going month-by-month since about 1860.

http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/brooklyn-foreclosures-not-just-in-east-new-york

Matt, I was thinking about this and finally came up with the ideal solution to your problem:
http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/retro-phone-handset

... glad to be of help

Wait for the NEW magicjack...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100108/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_gadget_show_magicjack

Alan, I didn't have a "problem" in the first place.

And for the record, I have one of these for my iPhone:

http://www.mobilewhack.com/wp-content/images/2009/04/yubz.jpg

It's Bluetooth (that means it's wireless).

"Wait for the NEW magicjack..."

Internet telephone works only as long as you have both an internet connection AND electricity.

Again, no service during a blackout.

Seriously, why the avoidance of having a regular phone line?

matt sounds like he's been going since about 1860 also.

Again, no one is answering my question.

Did we find out that Verizon kills puppies? Sold Nazi gold?

Why the absolute avoidance of having a land-line in your home *in addition to* the convenience (but relative unreliability) of a cell phone?

Ok Matt. YOU carry a dead puppy with a tangled phone cord around its neck through the lobby at NSP. Others would prefer to keep Buffy alive and make other phone arrangements.

"Ok Matt. YOU carry a dead puppy with a tangled phone cord around its neck through the lobby at NSP. Others would prefer to keep Buffy alive and make other phone arrangements."

This is the dumbest thing I've ever read.

Agreed

Regular lines are overpriced and worthless, I have a voip landline for $0.99/mo. Beat that Matt!

About the blackout: most of the people have wireless handsets and they would be dead as the internet phones.

"About the blackout: most of the people have wireless handsets and they would be dead as the internet phones."

That's their problem. The phone LINE, however, would still be operational.

"Regular lines are overpriced and worthless"

Compared to what?

$30/month for UNLIMITED local and long distance. With 100% reliability and unsurpassed sound quality.

Beat THAT.

My cost per month is $0.99/mo + 1c/per minute (6 secs increments). No tax.
What would be the tax for $30/mo, an another $15. That's $45/mo, or $540/year.

During the last blackout my internet was working fine, I could do VOIP calls no problem.

During 9/11 landlines/cells weren't working (overloaded), but internet was working fine and I was able to contact everyone.

http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/HomePhone/FreedomUnlimitedCalling/FreedomUnlimitedCalling.htm

$30 per month? More like $50/mo.

"$30 per month? More like $50/mo."

Only if you're willing to take the stated offer.

I've worked out my own deal -- which I'm sure you could do as well, if you were so inclined.

BTW, my $30/month includes all the bells and whistles (answer call, call waiting, caller ID, etc.) as well as THREE separate numbers ringing on the same line (home, office, and fax).

Does your phone line include digital receptionist, calling queues, call back, day/night mode, recordings, unlimited incoming/outgoing channels, and fax to email? Oh and I have 8 DIFFERENT phone numbers, all of them 212.

I use my lines for business, my family have cell phones. I even use my cell phone to call internationally utilizing my voip line.

"Does your phone line include digital receptionist, calling queues, call back, day/night mode, recordings, unlimited incoming/outgoing channels, and fax to email? Oh and I have 8 DIFFERENT phone numbers, all of them 212."

Apples and oranges.

We're talking about regular residential telephone service. You're obviously trying to run a small corporation, which at that point, would actually make more sense, from a business standpoint, to have a real office, REAL (not digital) receptionist, and proper office staff.

And an answering service.

darkbird, the features of your telecom provider (which one is it, btw?) are all very well and good, but Matt's service allows him to ask Ernestine to place person-to-person calls to Topeka, Kansas on his behalf.

"but Matt's service allows him to ask Ernestine to place person-to-person calls to Topeka, Kansas on his behalf."

Actually, ALAN, the telephone company has, with the introduction of area codes, allowed for *direct dial* long-distance since 1962.

By the time you get done dialing "Susquehanna79899" and putting an adhesive bandage around your finger (I'm assuming you don't have a sterling-silver telephone dialer), you might as well just have Ernestine place the call, even if it's station-to-station.

Plus she'll wish you a gracious good afternoon ... will your faddish flash-in-the-pan direct dial do that?

Oh Alan, m'dear -- I just timed it -- it takes 11.3 seconds exactly to dial SU7-9899.

If that's just too much time out of your day, you have some serious time management issues.

VOIP reviews: http://www.dslreports.com/gbu Nice reviews in very good format. I use 2 callcentric and voip.ms.